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Topical Scripture

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Note:
The doctrine of Purgatory is Biblical; the term
"Purgatory" was coined by the Church. Various passages relevant
to this doctrine have been included herein (most include explanatory
notes).

But under the tunic of each of the dead they found amulets
sacred to the idols of Jamnia, which the law forbids the Jews to
wear. So it was clear to all that this was why these men had been
slain. They all therefore praised the ways of the Lord, the just
judge who brings to light the things that are hidden. Turning to
supplication, they prayed that the sinful deed might be fully
blotted out. The noble Judas warned the soldiers to keep
themselves free from sin, for they had seen with their own eyes
what had happened because of the sin of those who had fallen. He
then took up a collection among all his soldiers, amounting to two
thousand silver drachmas, which he sent to Jerusalem to provide
for an expiatory sacrifice. In doing this he acted in a very
excellent and noble way, inasmuch as he had the resurrection of
the dead in view; for if he were not expecting the fallen to rise
again, it would have been useless and foolish to pray for them in
death. But if he did this with a view to the splendid reward that
awaits those who had gone to rest in godliness, it was a holy and
pious thought. Thus he made atonement for the dead that they might
be freed from this sin. [2MACC 12:40-46] [Note: Since those in
hell can't be helped by prayers and those in heaven don't need
them, such souls must be in Purgatory.]

Remove the dross from silver, and it comes forth perfectly purified;
Remove the wicked from the presence of the king, and his throne is made firm through righteousness. [PROV 25:4] [Note:
This passage indicates the necessity of being pure before the
Lord. Those who depart earth impurely are in need of purification
in order to remain in the presence of the Lord.]

Depart, depart, come forth from there, touch nothing unclean! Out from there! Purify yourselves, you who carry the vessels of the LORD. [ISA 52:11]
[Note:
This passage indicates the necessity of being pure before the
Lord. Those who depart earth impurely are in need of purification
in order to remain in the presence of the Lord.]

Are you not from eternity, O LORD, my holy God, immortal?...
Too pure are your eyes to look upon evil, and the sight of misery you cannot endure. [Taken
from HAB 1:12-13] [Note:
This passage indicates the necessity of being pure before the
Lord. Those who depart earth impurely are in need of purification
in order to remain in the presence of the Lord.]

"And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven; but whoever speaks against the
Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come."
[MT 12:32] [Note: This passage implies that some sins may be forgiven
in the age to come.]

"If you are to go with your opponent before a magistrate, make an effort to settle the matter on the way; otherwise your opponent will turn you over to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the constable, and the constable throw you into prison.
I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last
penny." [LK 12:58-59] [Note: Justice demands
recompense.]

Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying,
"Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us." The
other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, "Have you no
fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? And
indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we
received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing
criminal." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you
come into your kingdom." He replied to him, "Amen, I say
to you, today you will be with me in Paradise." [LK 23:39-43]
[Note: Jesus, of course, would not enter into the purification
of Purgatory since He lived sinlessly, however, this passage
indicates an additional place for souls after death since Jesus
would not rise until Easter morning and would not ascend to Heaven
for several more weeks.]

According to the grace of God given to me, like a wise master
builder I laid a foundation, and another is building upon it. But
each one must be careful how he builds upon it, for no one can lay
a foundation other than the one that is there, namely, Jesus
Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver,
precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, the work of each will come
to light, for the Day will disclose it. It will be revealed with
fire, and the fire (itself) will test the quality of each one's
work. If the work stands that someone built upon the foundation,
that person will receive a wage. But if someone's work is burned
up, that one will suffer loss; the person will be saved, but only
as through fire. [1COR
3:10-15]

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive recompense, according to what he did in the body, whether good or evil.
[2COR 5:10] [Note: Departed souls not deserving of hell, and
also not yet worthy of heaven, would clearly require interim
destination.]

Strive for peace with everyone, and for that holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
[HEB 12:14] [Note: Those who depart earth in a state of sin are
in need of purification in order to remain in the presence of the
Lord.]

For Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the
sake of the unrighteous, that he might lead you to God. Put to
death in the flesh, he was brought to life in the spirit. In it he
also went to preach to the spirits in prison, who had once been
disobedient while God patiently waited in the days of Noah during
the building of the ark, in which a few persons, eight in all,
were saved through water. [1PT 3:18-20] [Note: The sinless
Jesus, of course, would not have entered into the purification of
Purgatory, however "spirits in prison" indicates an
additional place for souls after death.]

If anyone sees his brother sinning, if the sin is not deadly, he should pray to God and he will give him life. This is only for those whose sin is not deadly. There is such a thing as deadly sin, about which I do not say that you should pray.
All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that is not deadly. [1JN
5:16-17] [Note: Clearly, sin requires atonement. Saving
atonement would not occur in heaven, and could not occur in hell, therefore
those who depart the earth guilty of non-deadly sin require another place
for atonement prior to entering heaven.]

I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God
almighty and the Lamb. The city had no need of sun or moon to
shine on it, for the glory of God gave it light, and its lamp was
the Lamb. The nations will walk by its light, and to it the kings
of the earth will bring their treasure. During the day its gates
will never be shut, and there will be no night there. The treasure
and wealth of the nations will be brought there, but nothing
unclean will enter it, nor any (one) who does abominable things or
tells lies. Only those will enter whose names are written in the
Lamb's book of life. [RV 21:22-27] [Note: Since nothing unclean
can enter, it is necessary that those who die in a state of
impurity (e.g. non deadly sin) be purified before entrance.]

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contained herein may not be comprehensive and may be categorized
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